What is the age requirement to get a boating liscense in VA?

Question

What is the age requirement to get a boating liscense in VA?

Answer 1

Unless you are a young teen, aged 14-15, you are not required to obtain a boating license in Virginia. Teens aged 14-15 are required to obtain a 'boaters license'. At this time there is no requirement for any other boaters to have a boater's license.

Answer 2

This is a very interesting question. Virginia boating regulations are under the authority of the Virginia Dept of Game and Inland Fisheries and a check of their regulations do not specify age restrictions for a minimum age for operating a boat and licensing is not yet required of anyone for vessel operation. However, they do have restrictions for the operation of a PWC (jet ski) and this would be a good rule to follow. It reads:

"It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a PWC, or the owner or any person having control to authorize or knowingly permit a person to operate a PWC, unless the operator is at least 16 years of age, except any person age 14 or 15 may operate a PWC if they have successfully completed an approved boating education safety course, carry proof of successful completion of such course, and show this proof upon request by a law enforcement officer."

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